Underwater play ball

ABSTRACT

The underwater play ball is comprised of a hollow cavity with a spherical shape which is made of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC material for holding both water and air pressure without rupturing. The cavity size and dry weight can vary, but the preferred cavity size equals the size of a average soccer ball where the dry weight is easily handled by children. The cavity is inflated with a safe rubber nozzle attachable to any size hose. The cavity includes a predetermined transparent level mark arranged around two valves at one end of the cavity. The water volume and air pressure inside the cavity is adjusted by filling water through a valve while releasing ambient air simultaneously through a second valve until the water volume and air pressure reaches a predetermined transparent fill level mark. The arrangement of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity combined with a predetermined amount of water and air pressure provides a underwater play ball with both weightless and pneumatic characteristics under water. Such an arrangement, provides a underwater play ball that can naturally glide under the waters surface in a straight line when passed by a swimmer by its self and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself when passed or bounced for amusement and exercise.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

I claim the priority of provisional patent application 61/209,572 filed on Mar. 9, 2009. This application is related to my co-pending applications Ser. No. 9/902,386 Jul. 10, 2001 now, U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,799 and Ser. No. 11/007,966 Dec. 9, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,340.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to underwater game balls.

2. Prior Art

Underwater game balls such as underwater rugby, underwater soccer are limited to negative buoyancy arrangements. Although some underwater soccer balls use only slightly negative buoyancy, their movement under water is limited to rolling on the pool bottom. There are neutral buoyant underwater foot balls that can be passed under water, but they require electrical power. Further, such underwater game balls can not rebound on impact to their original position naturally by their self when passed kicked or bounced.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of the present underwater play ball are:

To glide in a straight line just below the waters surface naturally long distances by itself when passed.

To repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position naturally by itself underwater when bounced.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The underwater play ball is comprised of a hollow cavity with a spherical shape, comprised of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC material for holding both water and air pressure without rupturing. The cavity size is small enough to have a dry weight easily handled by children such as a soccer ball size. The cavity is inflated with a typical garden hose with an attached universal rubber nozzle used to fit standard and foreign hose sizes. The cavity includes a predetermined transparent fill level mark arranged around two valves at one end of the cavity. The water volume and air pressure inside the cavity is adjusted by filling water through a valve while releasing ambient air pressure simultaneously from a second valve until the volume of water and air pressure reaches a predetermined transparent fill level mark. The combination of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity inflated with a predetermined amount of water and ambient air pressure provides a neutral buoyant and pneumatic underwater play ball that can naturally glide under water in a straight line and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself when passed and bounced underwater for amusement and exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a end view of the present underwater play ball.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a illustration inflating the present underwater play ball.

FIG. 4 is a illustration showing the present underwater play ball gliding underwater by itself.

FIG. 5 illustration showing the present underwater play ball rebounding on impact to its original position by itself.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERAL

10. Underwater Play Ball 11. Hollow Cavity 12. Flexible Lightweight low density PVC 13. Valve 14. Valve 15. Fill Level Mark 16. Rubber Nozzle 17. Ambient Air 18. Hose 19. Water Level

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3:

A preferred embodiment of an underwater play ball 10 shown in FIG. 1 is comprised of a spherical shaped hollow cavity 11. Cavity 11 is preferably comprised of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC 12, shown in. FIG. 2. Cavity 11 includes valves 13 and 14 arranged adjacently at one end of cavity 11. A predetermined transparent fill level mark 15 is arranged around valves 13 and 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Valve 13 may be any type of device which allows water to enter and exit cavity 11, such as a plug or cap on a hole. Valve 14 may be any type of device which will allow air to enter and exit the cavity 11, such as a plug or cap on a hole. Cavity 11 is inflated by filling water through a valve 13, using a universal rubber nozzle 16 attachable to a hose 18 wherein, hose 18 maybe any size. Cavity 11 is inflated by filling water through a valve 13, while releasing ambient air simultaneously from. a second valve 14, until the water level 19 and ambient air 17, reaches a predetermined transparent fill level mark 15 shown in FIG. 3. The combination of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity 11, inflated with a predetermined combination of water and ambient air pressure provides a underwater play ball 10, that can naturally glide in a straight line under water and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by when passed or bounced under water by a swimmer for amusement and exercise as show in FIGS. 4-5.

Although the foregoing description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions, etc. can be used unless specifically indicated otherwise. The relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of elements can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given. 

1. A underwater play ball having both neutral buoyant and pneumatic characteristics under water for amusement and exercise, said underwater play ball comprising: a spherical shaped hollow cavity having a volume, said cavity comprised of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC material, at least a first opening in the cavity including a valve for allowing water to enter the cavity to adjust the buoyancy thereof, at least a second opening in the cavity including a valve for releasing ambient air simultaneously to adjust the air pressure for pneumatic characteristics thereof, at least one transparent fill level mark on the cavity to show the level of water and air volume
 2. The underwater play ball of claim 1, said valves arranged adjacently at one end of the said cavity.
 3. The underwater play ball of claim 1, further including a said transparent fill level mark arranged around said valves for showing water level and air volume as a bubble inside the said cavity.
 4. The underwater play ball of claim 1, wherein, the buoyancy and air pressure of said cavity is adjusted by filling water through a said valve, while releasing ambient air from a second said valve, simultaneously until the said cavity is inflated with water and air pressure to a predetermined said transparent fill level mark.
 5. The underwater play ball of claim 1, further providing a said strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity inflated with a predetermined amount of water and air pressure to provide a said neutral buoyant and pneumatic underwater play ball that can glide naturally in a straight line and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself when passed or bounced by a swimmer for amusement and exercise. 